Attachment for phonographs.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

E. GILBERT. ATTACHMENT FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18,1902.

NO MODEL.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

W/ TN 55555: MWTFQ PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

E. GILBERT. ATTACHMENT FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLIGATION TILED 10110.18, 1902.

2 SHBETSSHBET 2.

N0 MODEL.

fin; 9

F/zz

5 E 5 5 f N n m: Nunms PETERS co, wom-umo wAsnmuTuN, u. c

UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ATTACHMENT FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,316, dated September 8, 190 3.

Application filed December 18,1902. Serial No. 135,690. No model.)

To to whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELAM GILBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, county of Multnomah, State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Phonographs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The present invention comprises certain new and useful attachments which may be readily secured to phonographs at present in use or which form a portion of the machine as delivered from the factory, the object of the invention being to provide means whereby the sound-producer or diaphragm mechanism is caused to automatically return to its starting-point after having traveled the length of the record to be reproduced, thereby permitting the machine to repeat its record any desired number of times.

The invention resides more particularly in the adaptability of the attachments to existing machines without the necessity of making material changes or alterations.

To comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of an ordinary pho:

nograph with the attachments applied thereto, the oscillating finger being shown as about to engage the cam-collar to lift the diaphragm or reproducer head. Fig. 2 is a front View in elevation of the mechanism disclosed by Fig. 1 of the drawings. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the drawings, illustrating the oscillating finger engaged with the cam-collar and the diaphragm or reproducer head raised for return to its starting-point. Fig. 4 is an end view in elevation of the mechanism in the position illustrated by Fig. 3 of the drawings viewed from the receiving end of the record-cylinder. Fig. 5 is a similar view disclosing the mechanism in the position illustrated by Fig. 2 of the drawings. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the fulcrumed lever which eugages with the worm-shaft for returning the diaphragm or reproducer head to its startingpoint. Fig. 7 is an end' view in elevation of said lever viewed from its forward end. Fig. 8 is a detail side view of the arm which carries the oscillating finger. Fig. 9 is an end view thereof. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the cam-collar. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the sleeve for the diaphragm or reproducer head traveler, disclosingthe worm-shaft therein for the return of said head. Fig. 12 is a detail view of the said worm-shaft; and Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the said worm-shaft, sleeve, and traveler working thereon.

The numeral 1 is used to indicate the bed of an ordinary Edison home phonograph, within bearings of which works the worm or feed shaft 2 of the record-cylinder. This shaft at one end carries the record-cylinder 3, upon which fits the record 4 tobe reproduced. The worm cylinder-shaft 2 is driven from the operating mechanism by means of the belt 5, working over pulley 6, attached to said shaft. These parts and their arrangement are the same as ordinarily constructed. Hence no specific description thereof is required in connection with this application.

To the worm or feed shaft 2 is attached a drive-pulley 7, which is connected to a smaller pulley 8, attached to the inner end of wormshaft 9 by means of crossed belt 10. This worm-shaft 9 works within bearings of and is hidden from view by the sleeve 11, which sleeve is parallel with worm-shaft 2 and is held between supporting-brackets 12 13, upwardly projecting from the bed 1 of the phonograph. By reason of the crossed-belt connection 10 between pulleys 7 and 8 an opposite rotation or movement is imparted to the worm-shaft 9 to that given to the worm-shaft 2 of the record-cylinder 3.

- Upon the sleeve 11 works the traveler let, from one end of which projects laterally the feed-arm 15, which carries at its free end the feed-nut 16. This nut works in the threads of the worm or feed shaft 2, which serves as a feed-shaft, and causes the traveler 14 to move outwardly upon the sleeve 11 during rotation of the said worm or feed shaft 2.

From the outer end of the traveler 14. pro jects the diaphragm-arm 15, which supports the diaphragm or reproducer head 16" immethe track edge 21 of the phonograph-bed 1. Said edge 21 is a slight distance above the bed 1, starting from point 22.

To the diaphragm-arm is fulcrumed the lever 23, the forward end 24 of which is downwardly curved and formed with an inwardlyprojecting extension 25, which extension rests against the edge.21 of the bed 1. Said lever is also formed with a stop 26, which when the diaphragm or reproducer is raised clear of the record 4 prevents the lever 19, with its roll 20, moving or falling from a vertical position during the return travel of the reproducer or diaphragm head 16.

. The rear end 27 of the fulcrumed lever 23, which is overbalanced by the weight of the forward portion, is slightly upwardly turned, so as to fit through the longitudinal slot 28 cut in the under face of the sleeve 11, and engages with the threads of the return wormshaft 9 when the diaphragm or reproducer head has been lifted clear of the record 4, as will be hereinafter explained.

To the inner end portion of the worm or feed shaft 2 is secured a cam-collar 29, which during the operation of themachine serves to operate the oscillator or oscillating finger 30. This oscillating finger is hinged to the free end of arm 31, secured to and projecting from the traveler 14. The upper enlarged portion 32 of the finger 30 overcomes the weight of the said finger and tends to throw the same in a direction toward the record-cylinder. This outward movement of the hinged finger 30 is limited by the stop 33, attached to the arm 31. Said oscillating finger 31 is held a by the feed-nut 16 working in the threadsfof the driven warm or feed shaft 2. As the feed-arm 1-5 approaches the end of its outward travel the oscillating finger bears against the face of the rotating cam-collar 29, being gradually forced inward until the lowermost portion of the cam-collar is brought into line with lower end of the oscillating finger, when the weight of the enlarged head portion 32 throws the said oscillating finger outward its full distance onto the upper surface thereof. The said finger rides upon the said surface, being gradually raised by the inclination of the cam-collar to raise or lift the arm 31 in order to turn upward the traveler 14 and raise the diaphragm or reproducer head clear of the record 4. As the diaphragm or reproducer head 16is raised, so that its reproducing-needle clears the surface of the record 4, the forward end of the fulcrumed lever 23, overbalancingits rear end portion, throws the upwardly-curved end 27 into the longitudinal slot 28 of sleeve 11, so as to be placed into engagement with the worm-shaft 9 for the return of the diaphragm or reproducer head. At the same time the weight of roll 20 throws the depending lever 10 into a vertical position, which places the roll 20 onto the track edge 21 at right anglesthereto. The weight of the diaphragm or reproducerhead and its associate mechanism is thus transferred to the roll 20, which supports same clear of the record 4. The roll 20 is prevented from moving outward during the returnof the diaphragm or reproducer head 16 by reason of the stop 26, against which the lower portion of the lever 19 bears.

Inasmuch as an opposite rotation is imparted to the return worm-shaft 9 to that given to the feed or worm shaft 2, it is obvious that when end 27 of lever 23 engages with the threads thereof the same, together with the diaphragm or reproducer head 16, arm 15, traveler 14, and feed-arm 15, will be carried inwardly or in a direction the reverse to that given by the worm or feed shaft 2 until the said diaphragm or reproducer has reached its starting-point at the inner end of the record 4. By this time the end 27 of lever 23 will have traveled approximately the full length of the thread of the worm-shaft 9, it being thrown out of engagement therewith by reason of the roll 20 being carried beyond the starting-point 22, as carried beyond this point the roll 20 drops below the surface of the track edge 21 and permits of the reproducer or diaphragm head lowering to place its reproducer onto the record 4. The Weight of this head 16' overcoming that of the forward end portion of lever 23 causes the upward movement thereof, which lowers the rear end 27 and moves same from engagement with the worm-shaft 9.

With the lowering of the diaphragm or reproducer head the traveler 14, feed-arm 15, and feed-nut16 are restored to their normal position for again operating to cause reproduction of the record.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be protected by Letters Patent, is

1. In a phonograph, a feed-shaft having a record-cylinder actuated thereby, a cam secured to the said shaft, a reproducer provided with means for moving same outwardly over the cylinder-record, an oscillator pivoted to and carried by the moving means for the reprod ucer, said oscillator being arranged to overlie and engage with the cam-collar to raise the reproducer clear of the record upon the termination of its outward movement, of mechanism whereby the reproducer when raised is moved in an opposite direction to that when lowered, and devices for supporting'the reproducer when raised and automatically lowering the same upon the completion of its return stroke. I

2. In a phonograph, a feed-shaft, a cam secured thereto, an oscillator pivoted to swing longitudinally of the feed-shaft and arranged to be actuated by said cam to raise the reproducer clear of the phonograph-record upon completion of its outward travel, and means whereby the reproducer when-raised is automatically moved to its starting-point and lowered upon completion of its return stroke.

3. In a phonograph, a feed-shaft, a stationary slotted sleeve, a return worm-shaft working therein, means whereby said shaft is driven in an opposite direction to that of the feed-shaft, mechanism for raising the reproducer of the phonograph at the end of its outward stroke, means actuated by return wormshaft whereby the reproducer is restored to its starting-point, and devices for supporting the reproducer in its raised position during its return'movement and automatically lowering the same when its starting-point has been reached.

4. In a phonograph, the combination with the feed-shaft, of areturn worm-shaft, means for driving said shaft in an opposite direciion to that of the feed-shaft, a traveler slidable upon the slotted sleeve, a feed-arm projectiug therefrom provided with a feed-nut which engages with the feed-shaft, a reproducer-arm projecting from the traveler, reproducing mechanism carried thereby, an arm carried by the-traveler, an oscillator secured to the free end thereof, a cam-collar attached to the feed-shaft, which cam-collar is engaged by theoscillator to raise the reproducer upon the completion of its outward stroke, a lever having a portion arranged to engage with the return worm-shaft upon the raising of the reproducer in order to restore the same to its starting-point, and devices which support the reproducer in its raised position and automatically lower same upon reaching its starting-point to disengage the lever from its return worm-shaft and place feed-nut into engagement with its feed-shaft.

5. In a phonograph, the combination with the feed-shaft, of means actuated thereby to move the phonograph-reproducer outwardly over the record, of mechanism forrestoring the reproducer to its starting-point upon the completion of its outward stroke, a cam-collar on the feed-shaft, an oscillator arranged to swing longitudinally of the feed-shaft which gradually moves onto the collar to raise the reproducer, and means carried by the reproducer mechanism which automatically engages with the return mechanism when the reproducer is raised and is automatically released from engagement therewith when the reproducer reaches its starting-point.

6. In a phonograph, the combination with the feed-shaft, of a return worm-shaft, connection between the drive mechanism and 'the said return worm-shaft whereby the same is driven in an opposite direction to the feedshaft, means for raising the reproducer of the phonograph upon the completion of its outward movement, and of mechanism which automatically engages with the return wormshaft to restore the reproducer to its startingpoint when raised and is automatically released from engagement therewith when the reproducer is lowered at its starting-point, said mechanism including a pivoted lever having a portion arranged to engage the return worm-shaft. 1

7. The combination with the reproducer or diaphragm head, of means for raising same at the end of its outward movement, a roller connected to the reproducer-head by a hinged lever or arm, said roller serving to hold the head in its raised position until returned to its starting-point, a device for preventing the roller moving from a vertical position during the return movement of the head after the head has been raised, and mechanism for returning the reproducer or diaphragm head to its starting-point.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ELAM GILBERT. Witnesses:

N. A. AGKER, V D. B. RICHARDS. 

